A season that began with high expectations following an encouraging 2008/9 season and the retention of nearly all frontline players during the summer, ended in ignominy and cowardice after a year of transition at Upton Park.
Rumours surrounding the clubs finances had been rife since the collapse of the Icelandic banking system, upon which the clubs previous owners wealth depended. This speculation had continued from the summer of 2009 with may sectors of the media predicting, and even attempting to aid, a fire sale. This did not happen, mainly due to the heroic efforts of Scott Duxbury, a figure who was not universally liked despite his selfless exploits (he reportedly gave a large portion of his salary up in order to pay for the wages of Guillermo Franco). With the spine of the team saved, until January at least, and a few optimistic additions and a top 10 finish last year there was the hope to at least consolidate and even push up the table.
Yet anyone who took the time to look below the surface could see the superficial nature of the moderate success of last year. The team had some good results at the start of the season by tailed off towards the end and the best staring XI was fragile and it seemed that the smallest dip in confidence or even slightest injury problems could derail the clubs fortunes. This came sooner rather then later.
After a promising away win at Wolves on the opening day of the season the cracks began to show and as the poor results persisted and as the season drew on with no turning point materialising, it became abundantly clear that the club were in a relegation fight. As January became February and the squad remained intact the vultures still gathered around the club and the inconsistency of the team continued.
The selling of James Collins to Villa at the start of the season was a costly error as a steady and reliable centre-back (who proved his worth during the Great Escape) would have been very useful. It’s decisions such as this that cast doubt over Gianfranco Zola’s decision making. He persisted with Jonathan Spector at right-back despite his nervous performances, perhaps taking a chance and giving promising youngster Fabio Daprela a run in the team would have been worth a gamble. Some of Zola’s tactics were questionable, such as playing Diamanti on the right (even though he is left footed) and Behrami (or another right footer) on the left.
This caused both wingers to have to cut in on their preferred foot, which narrowed the team’s formation and limited crossing potential. These short-comings meant the strikers were starved of service and as a result creating and finishing chances lead to a lack of goals. Selection of the forwards was also a problem.
Cole was injured for a larger portion of the season after an encouraging start and when he returned was not as sharp. Zola also preferred to start Ilan due to his early goals. However Franco was the only player in the squad that could bring teammates into the game and link up midfield and forward play and actually showed some quality and creativity.
We will never know how the sacking of Gianluca Nani will be for the long term future of the squad as without his valuable insight into promising young players and youth development we seem to have no vision or direction in the progression of the team.
This showed a lack of respect for a man who had conducted himself with nothing but dignity when his new chairmen did anything but by criticising him in public. At no point in the season did Zola make excuses for the teams losses by blaming the referee or the situation he had found himself. Zola had his deficiencies as a manager (as stated earlier) but he did keep us up with a team that had a distinct lack of depth and quality with little or no money to spend.
There was very little he had to work with and not much he could do about it. It could be the case that he would be more suited as a number two as he could impart his knowledge and experience without the pressure and expectations of being the person the buck stops with. Anyone who saw his performance during Tony Carr’s testimonial could see that he is not built to be a club manager. During this brief appearance the weight was lifted from his shoulders as he returned to what he loves, playing football.
The smile retuned and he seemed to finally enjoy his time at West Ham, this could also be due to the fact that Premier League football had been secured earlier that week. After all it was Zola’s first club job and he had the club’s best interests at heart, he did not deserve to be treated this way. This was such a cowardly method of dismissal that it left a nasty taste in the mouth and for the first time I can remember actually made me ashamed to support the club I had done since I was six.
What next? Well there have actually been some reasons for optimism with Avram Grant as new manager and the signing of Hitzlsperger and possibly Riquelme. Although…I seem to remember thinking the same thing around this time last year.
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